IDK if y'all even remember, but last summer, I said I would take a break to work on a travel course, city guides, and apartment swaps. I LITERALLY DID 👏🏼 IT 👏🏼 ALL 👏🏼 and will be publishing all of it over the next few months! ❤ Get notified here → damondominique.com/Global-Citizen-Course
Someone said. “I used to go to the internet to escape the real world (15 years ago) now I go to the real world to escape the internet”. And BOWY, THAT I felt. Update; Wow so many people relate to this. I think this is exactly one of the few things I really enjoy about the internet. Sometimes you will think you are the only one experiencing or thinking something and they through comments and forums you find out that you are indeed not alone. For me the struggle with social media continues, after a burnout I deleted instagram and it was amazing for months. Then, I started picking up photography and decided to go on Instagram again to share my photography. Are there any people who “need” to use social media for their job/hobbies? How do you manage not going into the rabbit whole while being online.
Exactly… I don’t use social media anymore, because it actually repulses me. Sure there is some quality content, i dont doubt that, but i just dont care.
@@antonios111 right there with you, I stopped using social media and it was the best thing. Then I started to get into photography and I feel like I have to use IG for that. Now I’m just downloading the app whenever I have new photos to post but I’d my hair rather not use it at all.. idk
The crazy thing is that "dead time" is literally VITAL to the human experience and to our mental and emotional sanity. Our brains are not meant to be constantly stimulated. That's literally how you kill your spirit and your creativity. There are so many beautiful subtleties of existence that we miss when we are constantly consuming things whenever there is a free moment. A little bit of boredom is healthy and necessary. Love this topic and love you. Could listen to you rant all day king. Your integrity is inspiring!!
Wow what you said resonates with a podcast I just listened to. A researcher explained that, in neuroscience, when an individual is calm/relaxed, we can observe that the brain is almost “turned off”.
It weirds me out that on TikTok people refer to each other as "creators", and not people. "No hate to this creator", "Go watch this other creator's video". We all upload on other social media and still are just people there... but are we all becoming just content creators instead? Bizarre.
Very. At that point it doesn't seem like influencers would be a thing because there's so many of them. You can't effectively influence a bunch of people who are also influencers...can you?
The part about respecting your audience was really interesting. A throwback to the days when creators wanted to build true communities and not just go viral with a bunch of strangers
rlly just delete it! i was at your point and didn't do it and it only got worse.. i got anxious everytime i opened the app and still couldn't stop and only then i realized couldn't handle it anymore.. it reaaally was an instant relieve to delete it ... i couldn't go back to it despite still sometimes having the urge to install it... the moment i actually think about it i get anxious again lol gave myself ptsd of some kind 😅
I agree. Recently with some friends we were talking about podcasts and one of them asked 'if you had a podcast, what would it be?' and I was like, 'i wouldn't have one cause I got nothin to say anymore'. I spent the years from age 5 to age 35 analysing, decoding, interpreting, assessing, understanding, discussing and now I reach a point where I've said it all. I also have a therapist for the heavy stuff I don't want to burden others with. It's like, we've decluttered our minds and finally got some peace and quiet.
I’m all for people using social media to spread factual information that the news refuses to broadcast with certain political or social issues. Because the mass traditional media is still very biased. However, for the videos that have a sliver of a comment about a rare human experience that is “not that deep” but the public somehow makes it deep-that’s getting ridiculous. For example, I saw a tiktok about a woman talking about how women that don’t have sisters are less toxic. The whole comment section and people stitching to that video were people just adding on top of each other why women in general are toxic. And how sisterhood is more toxic than brotherhood. Somewhere down the line the videos stitching to it got more saturated with the same reaction and eventually it was just people hating women lol yes it became a rabbit hole of hate but the other thing was that it wasn’t even a comment to dig that deep into. The woman originally said it because she explained that she grew up with no siblings to begin with. And she noticed, from her experience, that women who grew up with no sisters tend to be less lenient towards all women including toxic women. Whereas women with sister(s) are used to fighting over mundane things with another woman (their sister) that it seeps into them getting used to women that they befriend as being toxic because that’s how they usually are with their sisters 😂 the way people so cheaply psychoanalyses that statement she made and ran miles with it just to end up hating women was what shocked me. It wasn’t that deep to begin with and not even true. Women with sisters would argue that it just makes them more confident to be around women without judging them for little things. And most likely to stand up to male toxicity because they didn’t grow up “male centered”. But it just kept adding and all I’m thinking is that original content creator just didn’t have sisters-so she got philosophical about her experience and the world reacted with hate and accusations about her as a woman hating women, or just simply they themselves claiming that women are toxic and that’s why sisters are toxic. All based one short video she made. Insane. So much was said about a statement that is not a real issue in society or in personal life experiences yet the public really squeezed a whole lot of nothing or hate from it somehow.
you've hit the nail on the head about why social media isn't fun anymore, both for content creators and consumers... I'm in my 20s and both me and most of my friends are trying to avoid social media as much as we can. it means we've all picked up reading and playing cards etc ahaha, and it keeps us way more connected to each other to talk about the books we're reading than "connecting" by knowing the same tiktok trends. we're all in creative industries, and the majority of us are in the film industry, so we can't get rid of social media completely (there's so much importance held in networking to get a job) but it is so mind-numbing that we all try to keep it at arms length. instead, we go out, spend time together and have way more interesting conversations because of this (and because we're spending our time on cool creative projects instead of the algorithm churn of content) also this reminds me of red wine talks and i love this kind of video, feels like we're hanging out and having a deep convo. also i understand the irony of saying this after the paragraph of avoid social media lol. your content is in the 10% of good stuff ;)
I've also been on this journey of distancing myself from social media. I often wonder if, at this point in time, it's even worth putting my time into it to showcase my work/art. How do you use social media? Did you find other ways to put your work out there for others to find (for work opportunities or simply for collabs with other creatives)?
Oh my god, I am also in the film industry (as are most of my friends) and at the moment I am finding myself very torn because on one hand I want to delete most of my social media as it is draining me on the daily but on the other hand just like you suggested the importance of networking has me in a chokehold!! especially since I moved half across the world recently to study in Korea as an exchange student and I will be trying to land an internship here in the next half a year. honestly the only reason I am conflicted about deleting my social media is the fear that an internship opportunity is going to pass me by... i have also been quite lonely since i moved here on my own so connecting with people via social media has at least provided me with some way to contact the people i've met so far. sorry for the long paragraph ahaha i just read your comment and it really resonated with me!! this is exactly how I hope I will spend my time with my friends after returning home! :)
I started distancing myself from social media almost 5 years ago when I realized how it made me more and more addicted. So happy people are joining in. There’s nothing fun
And this is why I still come back to UA-cam, time from time - for Damon. Over the last 10 years, a lot has changed (everything he mentioned in the video), but Damon has stuck to the common thread and stayed true to his brand, identity, and storytelling. Keep saying the truth, Damon, and all the OGs who have been with you will stay with you.
A "content creator" with critical thinking skills, a philosophical backbone and integrity. Love to see it. I love hearing your takes on society and social behaviour as someone with a bachelors in sociology and a masters in psychology :)
your russel brand comment just proves your point about people forgetting things fast because a few months ago that man was accused of rape and assult by many people but now all is forgotten
^^^ Russell Brand is a conspiracy theorist faux-intellectual spiritual guru who is full of shit BUT ON TOP OF THAT has been accused of rape and sexual assault. He doesn't deserve any admiration.
Did it ever occur to you that there was no proof that it was just some crazy woman who hates what he believes and says that sort of stuff happens all the time, on both sides and even women who were spurned by some man they liked will accuse him of something
We will always watch your videos, not because of the topics you cover, but because of your point of view on things. Whether its travelling and culture or dating, social media ect.. Personally, I care about your thoughts, your creativity, and personality
6:54 on getting "softer" and more sentimental in your 30s. YES! I was so hard in my 20s and now I'm 33 and I still wanna burn it all down *but* make sure everyone gets out of the building safely, has alternate housing, is provided high-quality food that is approved for consumption in Europe, has childcare, sick leave, and a 401k😂
Your comments about consuming empty content = consuming empty calories, one generation aiming to create something legendary vs the new generation growing up today really hit the nail on the head. We are inundated with so much content yet…so bored and unimpressed by everything that’s out there. I used to be obsessed with UA-camrs and watching YT in my teens. Now I’m approaching my 30s and wanting to do non-tech things like camping, reading, painting, etc. for the people who have free time and don’t know what to do with it, damn what an incredibly privileged position to be in! Volunteering and getting involved in your community are awesome ways to contribute your time and provide you with meaning in your life. Okay that’s my two cents… time to get off the internet now 😅
Man you are one of the few real youtubers still standing. I feel like you are still valuing "real life" and seeing human beings more than the majority, that only see statistics and get into different digital fantasies. I have much more to say but i just woke up and need to go to work, see you!
Damon! Thank you for being such a breath of fresh air on social media. To answer your question, YOUR content wows me. Your intellect, attention to detail, edits, all of it is superb. Thank you for your authenticity, wisdom, + wit! ❤
As someone who has been watching you for the past 8 years, since your 2015 NYC studio tour, I want to say that it has been such a pleasure to watch your journey and authenticity in how you show up and create on youtube. Your work and presence as a youtuber has been the one that I have stayed with the longest, and I think that has to do with your reflection on your own longevity, in that you are not conforming to the new norms of social media today. I'm only half way through your video so far, but when you were discussing how most future content will be safe, from the comfort of peoples own homes, I immediately thought of podcasts and how so many podcasts are just empty... a bummer in a way because I really loved your red wine talks and those essentially are a video podcast, and I was like, DD should do a podcast of his red wine talks, only to realize you had and how so many people have taken that idea and ran with it. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore... essentially, kudos to you because I always feel you show up authentically, and I look forward to whatever and wherever you're headed next
I have been learning French for 4 years and everytime when people asked me why, I feel like I am missing something in my answer. Watching this video just brings me back to the days when I wasn't overwhelmed by social media before covid., literally reminds me of YOU being one of the major reasons I started French. Hate how I could not remember big life events as those daily reels and shorts brainwashes me with 0 context.
I got my tea and got all cozy and ready for this rant\chat\convo. This is what I love Damon. It’s not the travel content. There are thousands of people at this point to do travel videos and go to most exotic places and film the craziest things. I like your videos because of you, it’s DAMON travelling, not just travelling. Your taste and preferences speak volumes about your inner world, a very colourful, curious and warm inner world. The videos take me to that part of you and I like being there and hanging around in that place (if that makes sense).
I love how literally Damon’s goal before alot of what has happened in his last few years was to get on “Netflix” make a travel “show” now he is like…. OH Im so glad im not contributing to that heap of trash. Sometimes life “gets in the way” of things we think we want to protect us and prepare us for what is actually good for us and will ultimately want! Come on Red Wine talk with my audience! This is the best red wine talk.
There are long form articles, early UA-cam videos, photosets from tumblr, etc from over a decade ago that have stuck with me because they led me to art, inspiration, philosophy, and some semblance of self discovery (your Ireland video did this for me in SOOOO many ways btw). I bring this up because I think a lot of us keep looking for the early identity discovery/making era of social media, things we can see ourselves in, before content got so insanely pseudosciencey and capitalistic. As an adult I’m realizing oh damn, I could actually have that except I don’t have to look online for it? Groundbreaking. So now I’m looking for ways to create that space for myself. Subscriptions for magazines that are published every few months, doing deep dives on Letterboxd to find the type of films I’m curious about, trying new things in the real world of course. If I’m going to be addicted to information and content I’m going to CHOOSE IT BITCH.
⏳Timestamps 0:00 This has been my job since 2015 1:30 ThE abUnDanCe eRa of the IntErnET 3:05 What works now on social media 5:01 Why no one is growing 6:05 Why you're addicted Part 1 8:42 Why you're addicted Part 2 11:01 Why you're addicted Part 3 + 4 12:25 Can't remember what I watched this morning 13:50 Can this go on forever? 15:02 “Stop overthinking your content.” 16:25 Quantity does not equal quality. 18:15 Travel videos are a big risk now 18:48 The (unfortunate) winning strategy these days 22:37 Reconsidering career goals…🧐 25:40 The Gotcha! era of social media 28:30 I am the dog that I trapped in my room 30:33 Content for the Explore page VS an audience 31:06 Reddit NoSurf 32:36 TikToks have no context, but people comment like they do 34:18 Mob mentality & the social media bullies 38:08 The snapback of it all 38:45 Copy and paste culture 39:59 Crappy monetization models 42:40 Predictions: Influencers 44:30 Predictions: AI 46:50 Predictions: Verification 47:50 Predictions: Low-quality internet 49:10 Predictions: Metaverse 51:50 Deleted
19:40 Wes Anderson DOES make commercials. 25:30 Masterpieces of art & literature are studied & revisited repeatedly. 37:20 Hamas is a terrorist organization. Let's not overlook that. This is a LONG video bemoaning the state of social media & the content churn. These are free platforms that are what you make of them. No one is forcing you to watch garbage content. The double-edged sword of algorithms is that they feed you more of what you want to see. If you're an uncritical person, you will gravitate toward & select easy, unchallenging content. As for what's next, consider completing your degree. It'll help.
I think you burned yourself out, similiar to many other content creators. You literally got older with us, in real time, you recorded your lifes journeys and I think some moments that maybe should have been private, you shared them on here. I think this led to a cumulation of stress and other factors that resulted in a 7 month break. You should take more breaks, and dont feel obligated to post for our sake, you should post when you want, how you want and when it feels right. Dont forget to take more breaks, the last 4 years have been rough on all of us.
I believe the 90% garbage theory has always applied to all forms of information, including books, movies, music, and so on. The reasons why you feel like this may be: 1) Content is easier to create these days, resulting in an overflow of meaningless content; and 2) time saves only the brilliant works for us to remember. At least to me, there are still valuable things on these platforms now, but we must be mindful of the content we consume (which is the hard part).
@@nanicrash You're welcome! In fact, I just found out that the exact idea was mentioned by a sci-fi author in 1950s (Sturgeon's law), and want to come back to this comment for that 🥰
the type of long form content where I actually feel like my mindset is expanding is all I’m looking for out of social media. short form makes me genuinely feel like i am addicted to a drug.
Your Berlin video genuinely felt new and interesting to me when I first saw it. Here I am living in Berlin 3 years later, a little inspiration definitely thanks to what you made.
The way I clicked SO FAST on this video. Idk why but for the past 2 weeks on and off I have been thinking about how I haven't seen anything from you on here. I don't use social media so I was hoping you were okay, and here you are! So happy to see your face Damon, hope you're thriving in 2024 🥰
This video right here is HIGH quality but the predictions part is even better !! You're so articulate and clairvoyant.. I know I'll return to this video in 3-4 years and be mindblown all over again
I'm actually battling & thinking so much about this as well lately. As an artist I'm struggling because I'm thinking: will I sell my soul, film myself whilst painting in my most pure form, for then to put a filter, a remixed & reverbed song under it, so I will get noticed? Probably in a Capcut pre-selected format? That's how creatives get "discovered". Funny, bc there's nothing creative about the process left. "If that one person finds you, you're in." "If I become known on socials, my work will sell." Every artist is posting themselves, their work and their process. Art (used in a very broad term) has become short-term content, more capitalistic then ever. Should I give in, or is there a balance to be found? There is SO MUCH CONTENT. I don't see my own work as garbage, but I don't want to add to the mind-numbing PILE!!!!
If you happen to have found the balance, please let me know. I never downloaded tiktok until now but 2024 might be the year i give in unfortunately... Also I don't think you're gonna add to the "garbage pile". For example, i KNOW garbage and shallow content exists out there, but i don't see it, my feed doesn't even pick it up. My point is quality seeking people will find your art.
@@jubiterr then I'll do my best to turn up in the algoritms like the one you have on your feed!! 🥲no but forreal, I find the act of creating for it to do well on socials so sad. So your point about that if our work will not be seen by the masses but a couple of those quality people, is making me happy :) Also, I find Tiktok to be more personal, less general than Insta. On the other hand, wayyy more addicting. But maybe that's what we need to find a couple of those true people!
there’s a REALLY good video about this exact thing by struthless called “the problem with the internet that no one is talking about.” he gives a few ideas for finding a balance, highly recommended
Literally feeling the same way. I really don’t want to have to become a content creator just to be successful creating art. I have no interest in all the work it takes to chase social media and short attention spans. I just want the right seekers to find my work. Some of them don’t even use Instagram or other aggressive marketing avenues. Art comes from the soul but all these things we have to do to monetize it nowadays do not.
Honestly, you're the reason why social media are still of worth to me; you make me think, you make me doubt, there are so many things similar crossing my mind, and then I see your videos, and it's like, yes he's so right, it's like in a way we are having a fruitful conversation just by watching your content. You make me realise and so much more, Damon; if only minds and energies like yours were more outta there or basically were more visible cause Im sure there are! I love your content, hear it, think about what you share, and love it! If I keep writing about how your content makes me feel, it'd be like an essay, and I have a thesis I should probably concentrate on! Keep growing in whichever form you want to
I think Bo Burnham very succinctly captures the almost dystopian sentiment about everyone becoming an influencer/social media taking over our lives in his recent special, Inside: “All human interaction…should be contained in the much more safe, much more real interior digital space…The outside world, the non-digital world, is merely a theatrical space in which one stages and records content for the much more real, much more vital digital space. One should only engage with the outside world as one engages with a coal mine. Suit up, gather what is needed, and return to the surface.”
I felt this in my spirit. As a weird herbal business owner content is so hard because people don’t want substance. They want a quick giggle or rich aesthetics 😫
3:26- so true! As a small creator and business owner, I see how creativity and originality is rarely being rewarded like the old days (especially UA-cam). Instead, it’s all about retention keeping, shock value and topics that are ranking high. And people love what you offer: you are authentic, intelligent and have a lot to say. And I quit Instagram for almost 4 months and I am scared to go back.
I think most of your problems come from tiktok. I don’t like tiktok because of a bunch of the points you made. But I still love UA-cam and still watch the content creators I’m subscribed to. I know it’s different from a content creator perspective because the trend shifts directly affect you work and income, but as a viewer I pretty much use UA-cam the same way I did 10 years ago (I just had to get the premium version because there are so many more ads now)
100%!!! Ppl who are dealing with the rut end of social media are on Tik Tok. Now I dont have any platforms other than This and Reddit but other than that, this is why I dont like shorts, and the scroll and watch elements.
I used to work at a company that specializes in optimizing content online for better retention/watchtime, and people have no clue how much effort is put into every piece of content online to keep them watching it, almost holding them hostage at times
I worked as content review AND THE first 30 seconds were hell for our attention span… like the amount of stuff that people had to put to capture our intention… Not even talking about thumbnails & titles...
Yes, finally someone is talking about this. I miss the creative times of social media where I could actually see the content of the fun ppl I was following on my feed :’)
I literally just discovered you, and to me, you stand out of the crowd of videos and social media that i've been watching/consuming for the last 3-5 years. Like I am genuinely want to watch your videos from start to finish. Thank you! :)
This was such a cathartic video. Thank you for voicing all the things I, and so many others have been feeling and experiencing. You are not alone in these thoughts and feelings. I’ve been witnessing my favorite creators slowly posting less and less and one hand I’m more than happy to support them taking care of themselves, on the other, it’s a symptom of a larger problem. It’s like watching an avalanche speeding towards you and knowing there’s nothing you can do. Just doing your best and staying true to yourself and your creativity doesn’t seem like enough. But IT IS! Don’t ever forget that!
So spot on - and yes, social media is quite boring. Like I want to see content I’d never think of searching for show up, I wanna see people I disagree with on EVERYTHING . I HATE THE VACUUM the algorithm puts us in based on who it thinks we are
Damon, Thank you for your content. I just happened to click on your transatlantic cruise on Cunard. Thought your presentation method was like stream of consciousness storytelling, but you got your point across. I was amazed & amused. Upon further viewing your content is deeply thought out as well as cogent. Your editing method and pop-up screens keep engaging your viewers’ attention as you highlight different points. Your command of French is enviable. I am a 74 y/o with a master’s in nursing education. You take me back to my young adult years. Love that. Phil B.
I found Damon's videos originally through Ashley's videos, the wine talk popped up in my recommend, and I've been a subscriber ever since. BOTH of you have wowed me. It's so rare to find non-short videos that are thoughtfully created, artfully created, created with the craft of filmmaking in mind, and contain fresh ideas that leave me with thoughts and feelings to mull over after. We're so conditioning to keep finding the next video instead of savoring the one we just watched.
oh Ashley, same 😭 I'm so happy to found Damon who has same like minded. haven't heard about Ashley for ages. I know she's active on ig / tt but I don't have any of those. so not bother to know her in and about too.. wish she come back to yt whenever she's ready (or maybe never?)
I love your content. I have been watching since the early days of damonandjo and you literally have never failed to amaze me. I love listening to your opinions and takes on things and even though I dont usually watch all in one sitting, but rather, split it up and watch over a couple days and LOVE IT. Please, never stop making content that is authentic to yourself.
When I was in my early teens I once saw a commercial for a perfume I liked so much (the commercial not the perfume, you dingo) it made me buy the product. This was a once in a lifetime occurrence as I usually *never* buy into advertising. It was weeks into using the (totally okay, maybe a bit sweet) fragrance when I learnt the commercial that had me willingly go out and spend money on a dream was in fact directed by no other than - Wes Anderson. What I'm trying to say here is 1. Wes Anderson is amazing and has been one of my favourite directors from the time I layed my eyes on my first Wes movie (The Royal Tenenbaums) 2. He DID direct a commercial and he did it SO well I went and bought the thing PURELY for the commercial!
Love that you called out the constantly online people: go outside, talk to people, get a job, find hobbies, laugh out loud, create something of your own, yes people, put the screen down…
Je suis étonné que tu traverses cette crise de doute et de motivation maintenant car avant ton break l'année dernière tu nous as quitté en disant "I feel like I've really stepped up my game" et j'ai l'impression que c'est ce que tu avais réussi à faire : des vidéos de qualité, tout en agrandissant ta communauté et ton nombre de vues. J'espère que tu vas continuer à pouvoir faire du haut de gamme tout en étant rentable pour toi. S'il y a bien quelqu'un qui peut trouver this narrow path c'est bien toi! Je pense que cette mode du contenu "sans contenu" est temporaire. Tout est cyclique, comme la mode ;) une fois que tout le monde sera fatigué de regarder du garbage le trend reviendra vers des influenceurs plus inspirants comme toi. Tiens bon et bonne chance!
Totalement d’accord c’est juste une periode comme l’epoque des beauty gurus revolue ou tant d’autres qui sont deja passées. J’ai trouvé les opinions un peu simplistes / réductrices personnellement.
Damon, you're one of the most effortlessly entertaining and thought provoking people on this hellscape of a site. Thanks for gracing us with your presence and time ❤
The way I’ve dissociated and checking how much time left of your video showed how much we’re losing our focus span. I hate it. I hate how affected I am by the internet. And I am upset on how entitled I am when other opinions don’t align with mine. We have magnetized SOOOOO MUCH of Social Media fucking opinions and cultures that at least I am afraid of having my own differing opinions even when they’re not right. It sucks. I want to be confident and always in learn-based environment. But I felt like an outcast of not being what the general populations want us to be _informed yet not understanding_
I love you Damon, I love this video, it’s real, raw, intelligent, thought-provoking. It really inspired me to rethink how I’m wasting my time on social media, and I’m reflecting on how I can live my life doing things that actually matter. Thank you for being who you are 💕
Man I never comment on youtube but I had to say that you're the realest, literally a rare gem on the internet. Love your content and I wish you all the best
Everything has changed. Social media has really changed in the past few years. We used to love finding new and interesting things. Now there’s just too much of everything so nobody’s really IN to ANYTHING. I’d love more social media videos coming from you because this is so REAL.
Thanks for sharing. Despite the influx of new crappy content/AI you definitely have a lot of loyal followers who have watched your videos for years and genuinely appreciate your individuality and creativity. Looking forward to the next one!
your videos honestly feel like a reprieve from the ‘garbanzo beans’ of social media lol. I’ve been watching you for a while and I am always inspired by your creativity, and deep thought. Thanks for making videos :)
This is the first 15 minute + video I have watched, start to finish, without skipping a second in months. This video felt like a relief and I'm so happy to see it, amazing work!
it’s interesting to see someone who is inspiring because their life seems so full snd real and dynamic describe these feelings that we all relate to bc i thought that me being lazy was the problem but in reality social media strips our life of value no matter where we’re at
Literally nodding at everything you said every 5 seconds. I’ve been feeling burnt out and jaded with social media lately and you totally encapsulated why. Love you and your talks…I’ll happily stay subscribed forever just to hear you rant like this ❤
Honestly the internet is already low quality and unreadable and unwatchable. Like the fact that I have to put "reddit" after every search just to get something written by a human and hasn't just been SEO'd to death is a bad sign. Like videos like this are so few and far between that I don't even really use UA-cam anymore (have been using it since it literally came out!!!). Social media has gotten so bad that I go to the movie theater and read books when I need entertainment instead of just mindlessly scrolling.
Yaaas! I felt this in my bones. I’m unapologetically trying anything that I want to on social media. I drop off and come back with the same frequency that Sade tours. 😏
This video was so good! I feel like a lot of us who started on here from early MySpace, youtube, blog era days (when those were a thing back in the day) and we were able to speak up completely feel the shift in what everything has become. I've definitely lost my voice and ultimately stopped posting after focusing on the "aesthetic" because it stopped being fun anymore. It's rare I even post myself speaking or sharing my opinions due to the "bully's" like you spoke about. Lately I've found myself posting less and enjoying real life more but in order to make both "worlds" work we have to go back to being authentically US. This video was great ♥️
I appreciate your craft, Damon. Thank you for the authenticity rarely seen here or any other social media space. I mostly agree with you and even when I disagree, I understand where you come because you actually think about these things, not just reiterate other's ig stories or so.
I’m a gen-zer who decided to delete Instagram in high school because I would never post and was just following ppl for aesthetics. I felt like such a voyeur and like I wasted so much time. I still hate social media deep down, but being in college and traveling and meeting new people…. I feel like I have to subscribe to it to keep connections. Because I love writing postcards or catching up with people who I only knew for a few days, but to find someone who reciprocates that is rare. I felt so defeated when I decided to get tik toks a few months ago, but it’s literally how I keep in touch with some of my friends. And now I’m thinking of getting Instagram too…… I. Do. Not. Know. What’s. Happening. To. Me. I can’t wait until I’m 30 and come back around and delete everything 😝🙃 but at least the internet gave me Damon 💕💕
I relate so much. I deleted it when I was in high school then reactivated my account once I started uni because I felt like I was missing out on connecting with all the new people I was meeting and staying in contact with friends from back home. I graduated last year and deactivated my account again. It’s just not for me. If people are meant to be in your life they will be. I do however can onlyhope that more and more people break free from the shackles of social media.
You couldn't have said it any better, and that just goes to show that yes, your audience is a mirror of your thoughts, persona, and viceversa. I just felt every concept on the same level, questioning myself and the others everyday. It's refreshing to see you and to watch your content because I've been so exhausted for so long, trying to find some inspiration (but maybe more than that,some connection). I hear you, and i think you hear us too (ou au moins, ça vaut pour moi sans doute). So thank you
Much respect for you Damon! this was a brilliant vlog filled with important information about what's going on in social media. Whatever you do next I wish you the best.
Yep, you’ve summed up “typical” social media. You don’t seem to be following the trends so you’re damn unique and genuine!!! Please keep it up--doing things the way you want to do them!🎉
At this point, you transcended the internet. We no longer deserve you because you are above that level. And honestly, you deserve that and keep growing and go higher and higher.
IDK if y'all even remember, but last summer, I said I would take a break to work on a travel course, city guides, and apartment swaps. I LITERALLY DID 👏🏼 IT 👏🏼 ALL 👏🏼 and will be publishing all of it over the next few months! ❤ Get notified here → damondominique.com/Global-Citizen-Course
can't wait for the info on apartment swaps!!
I REMEMBER! 👏🏾 Can't wait!😅
What does that mean? @@lourdesgil9825
I remember and I'm looking forward to hacking my corporate job and traveling! ❤️❤️
yessss i was so and still am so excited!!!
Someone said. “I used to go to the internet to escape the real world (15 years ago) now I go to the real world to escape the internet”. And BOWY, THAT I felt.
Update;
Wow so many people relate to this. I think this is exactly one of the few things I really enjoy about the internet. Sometimes you will think you are the only one experiencing or thinking something and they through comments and forums you find out that you are indeed not alone.
For me the struggle with social media continues, after a burnout I deleted instagram and it was amazing for months. Then, I started picking up photography and decided to go on Instagram again to share my photography. Are there any people who “need” to use social media for their job/hobbies? How do you manage not going into the rabbit whole while being online.
oh shit
This!!!!
Uuuuuuuw ❤
Exactly… I don’t use social media anymore, because it actually repulses me.
Sure there is some quality content, i dont doubt that, but i just dont care.
@@antonios111 right there with you, I stopped using social media and it was the best thing. Then I started to get into photography and I feel like I have to use IG for that. Now I’m just downloading the app whenever I have new photos to post but I’d my hair rather not use it at all.. idk
The crazy thing is that "dead time" is literally VITAL to the human experience and to our mental and emotional sanity. Our brains are not meant to be constantly stimulated. That's literally how you kill your spirit and your creativity. There are so many beautiful subtleties of existence that we miss when we are constantly consuming things whenever there is a free moment. A little bit of boredom is healthy and necessary. Love this topic and love you. Could listen to you rant all day king. Your integrity is inspiring!!
THIS.
Wow what you said resonates with a podcast I just listened to. A researcher explained that, in neuroscience, when an individual is calm/relaxed, we can observe that the brain is almost “turned off”.
This comment >>>>>
Wow can guide me to a book or video that speaks more about this
@@FarahNuitwhat podcast is this pls
everyone being an influencer at some level feels so dystopian and overwhelming and strange to me 😅
It weirds me out that on TikTok people refer to each other as "creators", and not people. "No hate to this creator", "Go watch this other creator's video". We all upload on other social media and still are just people there... but are we all becoming just content creators instead? Bizarre.
yeah it's like who's influencing influencers if they're so many?
Very. At that point it doesn't seem like influencers would be a thing because there's so many of them. You can't effectively influence a bunch of people who are also influencers...can you?
@@haute03 maybe if they tend to be a whole army, they'll just be become regular instagram users, and super influencers will born idk
and underwhelming at the same time😂😢😅
God I miss long-form, brain-dump, stream of consciousness content like this so much
You spoke my mind!!
Me too
Same!! Don’t see enough of this anymore!!
The part about respecting your audience was really interesting. A throwback to the days when creators wanted to build true communities and not just go viral with a bunch of strangers
!!!
It's to the point where Instagram reels have started making me physically sick yet I still can't look away.
delete for 30 days. I just did that and it's heaven. think i'm done with instagram now
i deleted it 6 yrs ago trust u won’t miss it
rlly just delete it!
i was at your point and didn't do it and it only got worse.. i got anxious everytime i opened the app and still couldn't stop and only then i realized couldn't handle it anymore.. it reaaally was an instant relieve to delete it ... i couldn't go back to it despite still sometimes having the urge to install it... the moment i actually think about it i get anxious again lol gave myself ptsd of some kind 😅
same deleted last month, life feels good now
@@ceebeeelem
i am GRABBING my tea and pressing play. GIRLS WAKE UP, DD JUST POSTED
I clicked on this soooo fast!!!
Darling same 😄 Earl grey in hand 🫖
Listen!! I just paused work. They can wait a min
samee here!
*girls, gays, and theys.
This video made me realise how much I miss a good old 30 min to hour long video in the age of making content as short as possible.
This and that I want to delete all the pictures from my album and make Polaroid pictures of only the important ones 😂
We’re in the age of long form, not short 😅 TikTok is becoming UA-cam
LOVE the concept of not saying anything when theres nothing to say- like its so simple-but in social media land.... that's unfathomable bahahaha
I agree. Recently with some friends we were talking about podcasts and one of them asked 'if you had a podcast, what would it be?' and I was like, 'i wouldn't have one cause I got nothin to say anymore'. I spent the years from age 5 to age 35 analysing, decoding, interpreting, assessing, understanding, discussing and now I reach a point where I've said it all. I also have a therapist for the heavy stuff I don't want to burden others with. It's like, we've decluttered our minds and finally got some peace and quiet.
Like why'd we forget that its okay to admit you don't know everything, or simply dont want to share anything that serves negligible purpose
I just love that Damon owned this fact. 🎉
Allow my to introduce myself
I’m all for people using social media to spread factual information that the news refuses to broadcast with certain political or social issues. Because the mass traditional media is still very biased.
However, for the videos that have a sliver of a comment about a rare human experience that is “not that deep” but the public somehow makes it deep-that’s getting ridiculous. For example, I saw a tiktok about a woman talking about how women that don’t have sisters are less toxic. The whole comment section and people stitching to that video were people just adding on top of each other why women in general are toxic. And how sisterhood is more toxic than brotherhood. Somewhere down the line the videos stitching to it got more saturated with the same reaction and eventually it was just people hating women lol yes it became a rabbit hole of hate but the other thing was that it wasn’t even a comment to dig that deep into. The woman originally said it because she explained that she grew up with no siblings to begin with. And she noticed, from her experience, that women who grew up with no sisters tend to be less lenient towards all women including toxic women. Whereas women with sister(s) are used to fighting over mundane things with another woman (their sister) that it seeps into them getting used to women that they befriend as being toxic because that’s how they usually are with their sisters 😂 the way people so cheaply psychoanalyses that statement she made and ran miles with it just to end up hating women was what shocked me. It wasn’t that deep to begin with and not even true. Women with sisters would argue that it just makes them more confident to be around women without judging them for little things. And most likely to stand up to male toxicity because they didn’t grow up “male centered”. But it just kept adding and all I’m thinking is that original content creator just didn’t have sisters-so she got philosophical about her experience and the world reacted with hate and accusations about her as a woman hating women, or just simply they themselves claiming that women are toxic and that’s why sisters are toxic. All based one short video she made. Insane. So much was said about a statement that is not a real issue in society or in personal life experiences yet the public really squeezed a whole lot of nothing or hate from it somehow.
This was so well done wtf.
Ikrrr
He is the epitome of what UA-cam influencer is. Such a inspiration
you've hit the nail on the head about why social media isn't fun anymore, both for content creators and consumers... I'm in my 20s and both me and most of my friends are trying to avoid social media as much as we can. it means we've all picked up reading and playing cards etc ahaha, and it keeps us way more connected to each other to talk about the books we're reading than "connecting" by knowing the same tiktok trends. we're all in creative industries, and the majority of us are in the film industry, so we can't get rid of social media completely (there's so much importance held in networking to get a job) but it is so mind-numbing that we all try to keep it at arms length. instead, we go out, spend time together and have way more interesting conversations because of this (and because we're spending our time on cool creative projects instead of the algorithm churn of content)
also this reminds me of red wine talks and i love this kind of video, feels like we're hanging out and having a deep convo. also i understand the irony of saying this after the paragraph of avoid social media lol. your content is in the 10% of good stuff ;)
I've also been on this journey of distancing myself from social media. I often wonder if, at this point in time, it's even worth putting my time into it to showcase my work/art. How do you use social media? Did you find other ways to put your work out there for others to find (for work opportunities or simply for collabs with other creatives)?
Oh my god, I am also in the film industry (as are most of my friends) and at the moment I am finding myself very torn because on one hand I want to delete most of my social media as it is draining me on the daily but on the other hand just like you suggested the importance of networking has me in a chokehold!! especially since I moved half across the world recently to study in Korea as an exchange student and I will be trying to land an internship here in the next half a year. honestly the only reason I am conflicted about deleting my social media is the fear that an internship opportunity is going to pass me by... i have also been quite lonely since i moved here on my own so connecting with people via social media has at least provided me with some way to contact the people i've met so far. sorry for the long paragraph ahaha i just read your comment and it really resonated with me!! this is exactly how I hope I will spend my time with my friends after returning home! :)
I started distancing myself from social media almost 5 years ago when I realized how it made me more and more addicted. So happy people are joining in. There’s nothing fun
love this comment. love that you're spending more time together.
And this is why I still come back to UA-cam, time from time - for Damon. Over the last 10 years, a lot has changed (everything he mentioned in the video), but Damon has stuck to the common thread and stayed true to his brand, identity, and storytelling. Keep saying the truth, Damon, and all the OGs who have been with you will stay with you.
A "content creator" with critical thinking skills, a philosophical backbone and integrity. Love to see it. I love hearing your takes on society and social behaviour as someone with a bachelors in sociology and a masters in psychology :)
Right!!
your russel brand comment just proves your point about people forgetting things fast because a few months ago that man was accused of rape and assult by many people but now all is forgotten
^^^ Russell Brand is a conspiracy theorist faux-intellectual spiritual guru who is full of shit BUT ON TOP OF THAT has been accused of rape and sexual assault. He doesn't deserve any admiration.
Did it ever occur to you that there was no proof that it was just some crazy woman who hates what he believes and says that sort of stuff happens all the time, on both sides and even women who were spurned by some man they liked will accuse him of something
@@slidenapps…
@@slidenappsoh yeah because it’s soooo far fetched that a man would rape a woman 🙄
We will always watch your videos, not because of the topics you cover, but because of your point of view on things. Whether its travelling and culture or dating, social media ect.. Personally, I care about your thoughts, your creativity, and personality
YES THIS
yeh same, I'm not a traveller or a language person and I fuck with Damon just because of who he is
6:54 on getting "softer" and more sentimental in your 30s. YES! I was so hard in my 20s and now I'm 33 and I still wanna burn it all down *but* make sure everyone gets out of the building safely, has alternate housing, is provided high-quality food that is approved for consumption in Europe, has childcare, sick leave, and a 401k😂
Your comments about consuming empty content = consuming empty calories, one generation aiming to create something legendary vs the new generation growing up today really hit the nail on the head. We are inundated with so much content yet…so bored and unimpressed by everything that’s out there. I used to be obsessed with UA-camrs and watching YT in my teens. Now I’m approaching my 30s and wanting to do non-tech things like camping, reading, painting, etc. for the people who have free time and don’t know what to do with it, damn what an incredibly privileged position to be in! Volunteering and getting involved in your community are awesome ways to contribute your time and provide you with meaning in your life. Okay that’s my two cents… time to get off the internet now 😅
1000% agree!
Man you are one of the few real youtubers still standing. I feel like you are still valuing "real life" and seeing human beings more than the majority, that only see statistics and get into different digital fantasies. I have much more to say but i just woke up and need to go to work, see you!
I’m sat.
What
Ava!!!❤
You’re sat and I hope you’re listening because you are one of the influencers contributing to this.
?
Love your channel Ava!
I think your struggle is you have a reverence for art and connection in a world that prioritizes cheap tricks
I’m 31 and I totally feel the whole ‘more emotional’ thing….I get teary eyed doing sudoku these days 🫠
Going on 30... and got teary watching The Batman today 😅
I need to know why sudoku made you emotional because I love sudoku, I’m pushing 30, I need to be prepared
I also want to hear more of this perspective
"do you want my experience or not?" this is gonna be my new motto
The dead time is so important to process the day and maintaining clarity
Damon! Thank you for being such a breath of fresh air on social media. To answer your question, YOUR content wows me. Your intellect, attention to detail, edits, all of it is superb. Thank you for your authenticity, wisdom, + wit! ❤
As a person who grew up chronically online and now works daily with social media marketing, I deeply resonate with everything in this video
As someone who has been watching you for the past 8 years, since your 2015 NYC studio tour, I want to say that it has been such a pleasure to watch your journey and authenticity in how you show up and create on youtube. Your work and presence as a youtuber has been the one that I have stayed with the longest, and I think that has to do with your reflection on your own longevity, in that you are not conforming to the new norms of social media today.
I'm only half way through your video so far, but when you were discussing how most future content will be safe, from the comfort of peoples own homes, I immediately thought of podcasts and how so many podcasts are just empty... a bummer in a way because I really loved your red wine talks and those essentially are a video podcast, and I was like, DD should do a podcast of his red wine talks, only to realize you had and how so many people have taken that idea and ran with it. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore...
essentially, kudos to you because I always feel you show up authentically, and I look forward to whatever and wherever you're headed next
I have been learning French for 4 years and everytime when people asked me why, I feel like I am missing something in my answer. Watching this video just brings me back to the days when I wasn't overwhelmed by social media before covid., literally reminds me of YOU being one of the major reasons I started French. Hate how I could not remember big life events as those daily reels and shorts brainwashes me with 0 context.
I got my tea and got all cozy and ready for this rant\chat\convo. This is what I love Damon. It’s not the travel content. There are thousands of people at this point to do travel videos and go to most exotic places and film the craziest things. I like your videos because of you, it’s DAMON travelling, not just travelling. Your taste and preferences speak volumes about your inner world, a very colourful, curious and warm inner world. The videos take me to that part of you and I like being there and hanging around in that place (if that makes sense).
I’m not sure why I stopped watching your videos for a while but I’m glad I’ve been reminded on why I fw you❤️
I feel this! I think it’s also the algorithm pushing all the new stuff, I miss so many videos and content from creators I actually follow
I love how literally Damon’s goal before alot of what has happened in his last few years was to get on “Netflix” make a travel “show” now he is like…. OH Im so glad im not contributing to that heap of trash. Sometimes life “gets in the way” of things we think we want to protect us and prepare us for what is actually good for us and will ultimately want!
Come on Red Wine talk with my audience! This is the best red wine talk.
So true
Fuck Netflix
There are long form articles, early UA-cam videos, photosets from tumblr, etc from over a decade ago that have stuck with me because they led me to art, inspiration, philosophy, and some semblance of self discovery (your Ireland video did this for me in SOOOO many ways btw). I bring this up because I think a lot of us keep looking for the early identity discovery/making era of social media, things we can see ourselves in, before content got so insanely pseudosciencey and capitalistic. As an adult I’m realizing oh damn, I could actually have that except I don’t have to look online for it? Groundbreaking. So now I’m looking for ways to create that space for myself. Subscriptions for magazines that are published every few months, doing deep dives on Letterboxd to find the type of films I’m curious about, trying new things in the real world of course. If I’m going to be addicted to information and content I’m going to CHOOSE IT BITCH.
I love your comment.
⏳Timestamps
0:00 This has been my job since 2015
1:30 ThE abUnDanCe eRa of the IntErnET
3:05 What works now on social media
5:01 Why no one is growing
6:05 Why you're addicted Part 1
8:42 Why you're addicted Part 2
11:01 Why you're addicted Part 3 + 4
12:25 Can't remember what I watched this morning
13:50 Can this go on forever?
15:02 “Stop overthinking your content.”
16:25 Quantity does not equal quality.
18:15 Travel videos are a big risk now
18:48 The (unfortunate) winning strategy these days
22:37 Reconsidering career goals…🧐
25:40 The Gotcha! era of social media
28:30 I am the dog that I trapped in my room
30:33 Content for the Explore page VS an audience
31:06 Reddit NoSurf
32:36 TikToks have no context, but people comment like they do
34:18 Mob mentality & the social media bullies
38:08 The snapback of it all
38:45 Copy and paste culture
39:59 Crappy monetization models
42:40 Predictions: Influencers
44:30 Predictions: AI
46:50 Predictions: Verification
47:50 Predictions: Low-quality internet
49:10 Predictions: Metaverse
51:50 Deleted
Cmon chapters!!
Pin your comment please
19:40 Wes Anderson DOES make commercials.
25:30 Masterpieces of art & literature are studied & revisited repeatedly.
37:20 Hamas is a terrorist organization. Let's not overlook that.
This is a LONG video bemoaning the state of social media & the content churn. These are free platforms that are what you make of them. No one is forcing you to watch garbage content. The double-edged sword of algorithms is that they feed you more of what you want to see. If you're an uncritical person, you will gravitate toward & select easy, unchallenging content. As for what's next, consider completing your degree. It'll help.
Damn this video is going to be good. Thanks for the time stamps
I ended up watching it all *of course* but thanks anyway😂
I am so glad other people see the problems about social media too. It is so sickening ☹️
I think you burned yourself out, similiar to many other content creators. You literally got older with us, in real time, you recorded your lifes journeys and I think some moments that maybe should have been private, you shared them on here. I think this led to a cumulation of stress and other factors that resulted in a 7 month break. You should take more breaks, and dont feel obligated to post for our sake, you should post when you want, how you want and when it feels right. Dont forget to take more breaks, the last 4 years have been rough on all of us.
You said a lot of things I felt about the internet today and couldn't put into words. I appreciate your respectful stance as a content creator.
I believe the 90% garbage theory has always applied to all forms of information, including books, movies, music, and so on. The reasons why you feel like this may be: 1) Content is easier to create these days, resulting in an overflow of meaningless content; and 2) time saves only the brilliant works for us to remember. At least to me, there are still valuable things on these platforms now, but we must be mindful of the content we consume (which is the hard part).
Insightful, thank you!
@@nanicrash You're welcome! In fact, I just found out that the exact idea was mentioned by a sci-fi author in 1950s (Sturgeon's law), and want to come back to this comment for that 🥰
the type of long form content where I actually feel like my mindset is expanding is all I’m looking for out of social media. short form makes me genuinely feel like i am addicted to a drug.
Such profound thoughts. You've vocalized everything that's been in my head about media and society in 2024.
Your Berlin video genuinely felt new and interesting to me when I first saw it. Here I am living in Berlin 3 years later, a little inspiration definitely thanks to what you made.
💕
The way I clicked SO FAST on this video. Idk why but for the past 2 weeks on and off I have been thinking about how I haven't seen anything from you on here. I don't use social media so I was hoping you were okay, and here you are! So happy to see your face Damon, hope you're thriving in 2024 🥰
nodding my head and taking mf notes because you're taking the words right out of my brain rn, yes to all of it lol
This video right here is HIGH quality but the predictions part is even better !! You're so articulate and clairvoyant.. I know I'll return to this video in 3-4 years and be mindblown all over again
This is a video I could rewatch again and again. Like this is the world we are living in and you are so articulated!
I'm actually battling & thinking so much about this as well lately. As an artist I'm struggling because I'm thinking: will I sell my soul, film myself whilst painting in my most pure form, for then to put a filter, a remixed & reverbed song under it, so I will get noticed? Probably in a Capcut pre-selected format? That's how creatives get "discovered". Funny, bc there's nothing creative about the process left.
"If that one person finds you, you're in."
"If I become known on socials, my work will sell."
Every artist is posting themselves, their work and their process. Art (used in a very broad term) has become short-term content, more capitalistic then ever. Should I give in, or is there a balance to be found? There is SO MUCH CONTENT. I don't see my own work as garbage, but I don't want to add to the mind-numbing PILE!!!!
If you happen to have found the balance, please let me know. I never downloaded tiktok until now but 2024 might be the year i give in unfortunately... Also I don't think you're gonna add to the "garbage pile". For example, i KNOW garbage and shallow content exists out there, but i don't see it, my feed doesn't even pick it up. My point is quality seeking people will find your art.
@@jubiterr then I'll do my best to turn up in the algoritms like the one you have on your feed!! 🥲no but forreal, I find the act of creating for it to do well on socials so sad. So your point about that if our work will not be seen by the masses but a couple of those quality people, is making me happy :) Also, I find Tiktok to be more personal, less general than Insta. On the other hand, wayyy more addicting. But maybe that's what we need to find a couple of those true people!
there’s a REALLY good video about this exact thing by struthless called “the problem with the internet that no one is talking about.” he gives a few ideas for finding a balance, highly recommended
Literally feeling the same way. I really don’t want to have to become a content creator just to be successful creating art. I have no interest in all the work it takes to chase social media and short attention spans. I just want the right seekers to find my work. Some of them don’t even use Instagram or other aggressive marketing avenues. Art comes from the soul but all these things we have to do to monetize it nowadays do not.
Honestly, you're the reason why social media are still of worth to me; you make me think, you make me doubt, there are so many things similar crossing my mind, and then I see your videos, and it's like, yes he's so right, it's like in a way we are having a fruitful conversation just by watching your content. You make me realise and so much more, Damon; if only minds and energies like yours were more outta there or basically were more visible cause Im sure there are! I love your content, hear it, think about what you share, and love it! If I keep writing about how your content makes me feel, it'd be like an essay, and I have a thesis I should probably concentrate on! Keep growing in whichever form you want to
I think Bo Burnham very succinctly captures the almost dystopian sentiment about everyone becoming an influencer/social media taking over our lives in his recent special, Inside:
“All human interaction…should be contained in the much more safe, much more real interior digital space…The outside world, the non-digital world, is merely a theatrical space in which one stages and records content for the much more real, much more vital digital space. One should only engage with the outside world as one engages with a coal mine. Suit up, gather what is needed, and return to the surface.”
I felt this in my spirit. As a weird herbal business owner content is so hard because people don’t want substance. They want a quick giggle or rich aesthetics 😫
THE KING OF UA-cam IS BACK
3:26- so true! As a small creator and business owner, I see how creativity and originality is rarely being rewarded like the old days (especially UA-cam). Instead, it’s all about retention keeping, shock value and topics that are ranking high.
And people love what you offer: you are authentic, intelligent and have a lot to say.
And I quit Instagram for almost 4 months and I am scared to go back.
I think most of your problems come from tiktok. I don’t like tiktok because of a bunch of the points you made. But I still love UA-cam and still watch the content creators I’m subscribed to. I know it’s different from a content creator perspective because the trend shifts directly affect you work and income, but as a viewer I pretty much use UA-cam the same way I did 10 years ago (I just had to get the premium version because there are so many more ads now)
100%!!! Ppl who are dealing with the rut end of social media are on Tik Tok.
Now I dont have any platforms other than This and Reddit but other than that, this is why I dont like shorts, and the scroll and watch elements.
God I miss this kind of long form content. well written and well presented with all the authenticity. Thanks for the thought provoking video Damon!
I used to work at a company that specializes in optimizing content online for better retention/watchtime, and people have no clue how much effort is put into every piece of content online to keep them watching it, almost holding them hostage at times
Please tell us more! Spill the tea.
I worked as content review AND THE first 30 seconds were hell for our attention span… like the amount of stuff that people had to put to capture our intention… Not even talking about thumbnails & titles...
Yes, finally someone is talking about this. I miss the creative times of social media where I could actually see the content of the fun ppl I was following on my feed :’)
Even though you felt like you had nothing to say, your voice has been needed and missed King!
I literally just discovered you, and to me, you stand out of the crowd of videos and social media that i've been watching/consuming for the last 3-5 years. Like I am genuinely want to watch your videos from start to finish. Thank you! :)
Yess Damon! We've missed you and are glad to see you back, even if just for a moment.
This was such a cathartic video. Thank you for voicing all the things I, and so many others have been feeling and experiencing. You are not alone in these thoughts and feelings. I’ve been witnessing my favorite creators slowly posting less and less and one hand I’m more than happy to support them taking care of themselves, on the other, it’s a symptom of a larger problem. It’s like watching an avalanche speeding towards you and knowing there’s nothing you can do. Just doing your best and staying true to yourself and your creativity doesn’t seem like enough. But IT IS! Don’t ever forget that!
I feel you compleately and you are not the only one feeling this way. The clicbait titles are so annoying, i block them.
This video is genuinely everything. You were born for this DD!
OMG IM SO HAPPY YOU ARE BACK!!! WE MISSED YOU AND THE LITTLE COLOURFUL SPACE YOU HAVE CREATED HERE ON UA-cam.
So spot on - and yes, social media is quite boring. Like I want to see content I’d never think of searching for show up, I wanna see people I disagree with on EVERYTHING . I HATE THE VACUUM the algorithm puts us in based on who it thinks we are
I am living for how the filter looks like a 70s/80s French film, which feels so appropriate for a DD video!! 🔥💖🔥
Damon, Thank you for your content. I just happened to click on your transatlantic cruise on Cunard. Thought your presentation method was like stream of consciousness storytelling, but you got your point across. I was amazed & amused. Upon further viewing your content is deeply thought out as well as cogent. Your editing method and pop-up screens keep engaging your viewers’ attention as you highlight different points. Your command of French is enviable. I am a 74 y/o with a master’s in nursing education. You take me back to my young adult years. Love that. Phil B.
I found Damon's videos originally through Ashley's videos, the wine talk popped up in my recommend, and I've been a subscriber ever since. BOTH of you have wowed me. It's so rare to find non-short videos that are thoughtfully created, artfully created, created with the craft of filmmaking in mind, and contain fresh ideas that leave me with thoughts and feelings to mull over after. We're so conditioning to keep finding the next video instead of savoring the one we just watched.
oh Ashley, same 😭 I'm so happy to found Damon who has same like minded. haven't heard about Ashley for ages. I know she's active on ig / tt but I don't have any of those. so not bother to know her in and about too.. wish she come back to yt whenever she's ready (or maybe never?)
I love your content. I have been watching since the early days of damonandjo and you literally have never failed to amaze me. I love listening to your opinions and takes on things and even though I dont usually watch all in one sitting, but rather, split it up and watch over a couple days and LOVE IT. Please, never stop making content that is authentic to yourself.
Damon, you are such a gem! Thank you for being here
When I was in my early teens I once saw a commercial for a perfume I liked so much (the commercial not the perfume, you dingo) it made me buy the product. This was a once in a lifetime occurrence as I usually *never* buy into advertising.
It was weeks into using the (totally okay, maybe a bit sweet) fragrance when I learnt the commercial that had me willingly go out and spend money on a dream was in fact directed by no other than - Wes Anderson.
What I'm trying to say here is
1. Wes Anderson is amazing and has been one of my favourite directors from the time I layed my eyes on my first Wes movie (The Royal Tenenbaums)
2. He DID direct a commercial and he did it SO well I went and bought the thing PURELY for the commercial!
Prada - Candy L'eau
Love that you called out the constantly online people: go outside, talk to people, get a job, find hobbies, laugh out loud, create something of your own, yes people, put the screen down…
Je suis étonné que tu traverses cette crise de doute et de motivation maintenant car avant ton break l'année dernière tu nous as quitté en disant "I feel like I've really stepped up my game" et j'ai l'impression que c'est ce que tu avais réussi à faire : des vidéos de qualité, tout en agrandissant ta communauté et ton nombre de vues. J'espère que tu vas continuer à pouvoir faire du haut de gamme tout en étant rentable pour toi. S'il y a bien quelqu'un qui peut trouver this narrow path c'est bien toi!
Je pense que cette mode du contenu "sans contenu" est temporaire. Tout est cyclique, comme la mode ;) une fois que tout le monde sera fatigué de regarder du garbage le trend reviendra vers des influenceurs plus inspirants comme toi. Tiens bon et bonne chance!
Totalement d’accord c’est juste une periode comme l’epoque des beauty gurus revolue ou tant d’autres qui sont deja passées. J’ai trouvé les opinions un peu simplistes / réductrices personnellement.
We are definitely in the “throwing stuff at the wall” era of social media and I vote for a bit of the opposite for a momento
Damon, you're one of the most effortlessly entertaining and thought provoking people on this hellscape of a site. Thanks for gracing us with your presence and time ❤
Someone recommended your video on Tik tok and this is how I found you I’m so happy I did. You’re so refreshing to watch.
The way I’ve dissociated and checking how much time left of your video showed how much we’re losing our focus span. I hate it. I hate how affected I am by the internet. And I am upset on how entitled I am when other opinions don’t align with mine. We have magnetized SOOOOO MUCH of Social Media fucking opinions and cultures that at least I am afraid of having my own differing opinions even when they’re not right. It sucks. I want to be confident and always in learn-based environment. But I felt like an outcast of not being what the general populations want us to be _informed yet not understanding_
I love you Damon, I love this video, it’s real, raw, intelligent, thought-provoking. It really inspired me to rethink how I’m wasting my time on social media, and I’m reflecting on how I can live my life doing things that actually matter. Thank you for being who you are 💕
Man I never comment on youtube but I had to say that you're the realest, literally a rare gem on the internet. Love your content and I wish you all the best
Everything has changed. Social media has really changed in the past few years. We used to love finding new and interesting things. Now there’s just too much of everything so nobody’s really IN to ANYTHING. I’d love more social media videos coming from you because this is so REAL.
Thanks for sharing. Despite the influx of new crappy content/AI you definitely have a lot of loyal followers who have watched your videos for years and genuinely appreciate your individuality and creativity. Looking forward to the next one!
my dear god, i needed this SO BAD. loved every second of it
your videos honestly feel like a reprieve from the ‘garbanzo beans’ of social media lol. I’ve been watching you for a while and I am always inspired by your creativity, and deep thought. Thanks for making videos :)
I have never seen you in my life, but somehow I found this video, and I'm so glad I did!!❤ really appreciate your perspective 👌😊
I fucking love you
This is the first 15 minute + video I have watched, start to finish, without skipping a second in months. This video felt like a relief and I'm so happy to see it, amazing work!
it’s interesting to see someone who is inspiring because their life seems so full snd real and dynamic describe these feelings that we all relate to bc i thought that me being lazy was the problem but in reality social media strips our life of value no matter where we’re at
Literally nodding at everything you said every 5 seconds. I’ve been feeling burnt out and jaded with social media lately and you totally encapsulated why. Love you and your talks…I’ll happily stay subscribed forever just to hear you rant like this ❤
Honestly the internet is already low quality and unreadable and unwatchable. Like the fact that I have to put "reddit" after every search just to get something written by a human and hasn't just been SEO'd to death is a bad sign. Like videos like this are so few and far between that I don't even really use UA-cam anymore (have been using it since it literally came out!!!). Social media has gotten so bad that I go to the movie theater and read books when I need entertainment instead of just mindlessly scrolling.
Nodding to everything you said. Felt so validating as a creator to watch this and understand that things have changed so much already. Thank YOU!
Yaaas! I felt this in my bones. I’m unapologetically trying anything that I want to on social media. I drop off and come back with the same frequency that Sade tours. 😏
This video was so good! I feel like a lot of us who started on here from early MySpace, youtube, blog era days (when those were a thing back in the day) and we were able to speak up completely feel the shift in what everything has become. I've definitely lost my voice and ultimately stopped posting after focusing on the "aesthetic" because it stopped being fun anymore. It's rare I even post myself speaking or sharing my opinions due to the "bully's" like you spoke about. Lately I've found myself posting less and enjoying real life more but in order to make both "worlds" work we have to go back to being authentically US. This video was great ♥️
I appreciate your craft, Damon. Thank you for the authenticity rarely seen here or any other social media space. I mostly agree with you and even when I disagree, I understand where you come because you actually think about these things, not just reiterate other's ig stories or so.
THIS IS SO GOOD. I want to be on the cusp of this movement of changing how we deal with these big platforms.
I’m a gen-zer who decided to delete Instagram in high school because I would never post and was just following ppl for aesthetics. I felt like such a voyeur and like I wasted so much time. I still hate social media deep down, but being in college and traveling and meeting new people…. I feel like I have to subscribe to it to keep connections. Because I love writing postcards or catching up with people who I only knew for a few days, but to find someone who reciprocates that is rare. I felt so defeated when I decided to get tik toks a few months ago, but it’s literally how I keep in touch with some of my friends. And now I’m thinking of getting Instagram too…… I. Do. Not. Know. What’s. Happening. To. Me. I can’t wait until I’m 30 and come back around and delete everything 😝🙃 but at least the internet gave me Damon 💕💕
I relate so much. I deleted it when I was in high school then reactivated my account once I started uni because I felt like I was missing out on connecting with all the new people I was meeting and staying in contact with friends from back home. I graduated last year and deactivated my account again.
It’s just not for me. If people are meant to be in your life they will be. I do however can onlyhope that more and more people break free from the shackles of social media.
Litrally!! Thanks for sharing, I’m sure I will end up following in your footsteps
thank you for challenging mediocrity and refreshing our MINDS, damon!
You couldn't have said it any better, and that just goes to show that yes, your audience is a mirror of your thoughts, persona, and viceversa. I just felt every concept on the same level, questioning myself and the others everyday. It's refreshing to see you and to watch your content because I've been so exhausted for so long, trying to find some inspiration (but maybe more than that,some connection). I hear you, and i think you hear us too (ou au moins, ça vaut pour moi sans doute). So thank you
Much respect for you Damon! this was a brilliant vlog filled with important information about what's going on in social media. Whatever you do next I wish you the best.
Bro's back and speaking truth bombs! Love your content, literally know I'm in for a masterpiece whenever I sit down to watch his videos.
I love you. Related to everything you said.
Yep, you’ve summed up “typical” social media. You don’t seem to be following the trends so you’re damn unique and genuine!!! Please keep it up--doing things the way you want to do them!🎉
At this point, you transcended the internet. We no longer deserve you because you are above that level. And honestly, you deserve that and keep growing and go higher and higher.
So true, a lumpia
Damon, I swear you read my mind! This reflection was so cathartic. Your brain works in such a beautiful way.